All Natural General Purpose Cleaning and Maintenance Ideas - 2

• Jar deoderizer
  2 to 3 tablespoons (30 to 45ml) vinegar
  
  Reusing glass jars with screw-on caps is economical and earth-friendly. They can come in handy for homemade gifts, craft projects, and storing other foods. What you don't want to reuse, however, is the lingering scent of the original contents. TO get rid of unwanted smells, pour 2 to 3 tablespoons (30 to 45ml) vinegar in to the bottom of the empty jar. Place the lid on top and swish the vinegar around. Let it sit for an hour, then wash as usual. If the scent is especially strong, let the vinegar sit overnight. 

• all-purpose lemon cleaner
  2 to 3 cups (200 to 300g) leftover lemon peel
  2 cups (500ml) vinegar
  What do you get when you combine the grease-fighting power of vinegar with the fresh scent of lemons? A prefect solution for all sorts of cleaning challenges! To make a batch, start by filling a large wide-mouth jar with leftover lemon peels (other citrus fruits, such as oranges, limes, and grapefruits, work well, too). Cover the peels with the vinegar, place the lid back on the jar, and let sit in a dark, cool place for about 4 weeks (give the jar a good shake every week or so). Strain the mixture through a cheesecloth and discard the lemon peels. Use in place of regular vinegar for any of the cleaning formulas on this site.   

• removing the smell of vomit/sour milk
  To rid the smell after an unfortunate bout of sickness, clean the area thoroughly, then place a bowl of vinegar on the floor and leave overnight. This works very well in a car as well, especially in warm weather. Leave the bowl on the floor of the car overnight, with the doors and windows shut.    

• Kitchen sponge reviver
  2 tablespoons (28g) baking soda
  2 tablespoons (30ml) vinegar
  water
  br> Few things can smell as foul as kitchen sponges past their prime, owing to the bacteria they can collect. It's best to replace them frequently to maintain the cleanest possible kitchen; however, that is not to say the sponges need to be disposed of completely. They can still come in handy for a variety of projects around the house, if you revive them with a healthy dose of baking soda and vinegar. Mix equal amounts on a sponge and add enough water to saturate. Squeeze gently to ensure the mixture has worked all the way through the sponge. Let it sit for about an hour, and then wring dry. Repeat if necessary.   

• Artificial flower cleaner
  1 to 2 cups (300 to 600g) salt
  
  Some artificial flowers can look amazingly real, but a thin layer of dust on seemingly fresh petals is always a dead giveaway. Conventional dusting methods can make the problem even worse by driving dirt deeper into the flower. A great way to dust a small arrangement is to fill a paper bag with 1 to 2 cups 300 to 600g) salt; a plastic bag works well, too, if the flowers will fit. Place the arrangement inside and secure the top. Give the bag a few gentle shakes and the salt will brush the lwaves and petals free of the dust. 

• Wall patcher
  2 tablespoons (36g) salt
  2 tablespoons (16g) cornstarch
  5 teaspoons water
  
  No need to buy a whole container of patching compound to fill a few nail holes in a wall when you can whip up a batch of this simple home formula instead. Combine salt, cornstarch, and water in a small bowl and stir to make a thick paste. Apply the paste to the nail holes with a putty knife and let dry. Rub lightly with sandpaper until smooth and then paint to match your wall. 

• no-fuss flower pot cleaner
  1 handful salt
  
  Scrub brushes can scratch and soap residues can cling to a clay pot's porous texture. Instead, reach for a handful of salt to work in their place. Simply place the salt on a clean damp rag and scrub away to let the gentle abrasive power of salt clean your empty garden pots between plantings. Rinse well with clean water. 

• Crystal vase cleaner
  1 cup (250ml) vinegar
  2 to 3 drops dish soap
  
  A delicate crystal vase can be tricky to clean, especially if the mouth of the vase is relatively small. Whatever you do, don't put it in the dishwasher! Crystal is extremely vulnerable to hot water and can easily crack. Instead, fill the case with the vinegar and add the dish soap. Let sit for an hour, then rinse thoroughly. The acetic acid in vinegar will gently clean your crystal and leave it sparkling like new. 

• cleaning humidifiers
  Rinse out humidifiers every few days and add two tablespoons of vinegar to prevent mold and bacteria from forming. Running this in the bathroom with the door and window closed will eliminate mold. Rinse and run again with clean water. It's important to renew the water each time instead of just filling up the reservoir.

• reviving an old stove or fireplace
  All grease spots must be washed off and any rust removed, and the stove must be cold. Mix black lead with vinegar to a creamy consistency and apply to the metal areas of the stove or fireplace. Polish with a stiff brush when nearly dry.